Triethyl phosphite can react with electrophiles in a Michaelis–Arbuzov reaction to produce organophosphonates. For example, the reaction between triethyl phosphite and ethyl bromoacetate produces a phosphonate suitable for use in the Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons reaction.2
Reduction/deoxygenation of hydroperoxides to the alcohols can also be effected using triethyl phosphite.3 This approach can be utilized for carbonyl α-hydroxylation by reacting the enolate with oxygen, producing an α-hydroperoxide which can be reduced by triethyl phosphite to the alcohol.4 A proposed mechanism is shown below.5
Triethyl phosphite can also be used in the Corey–Winter olefin synthesis.6
In coordination chemistry and homogeneous catalysis, triethylphosphite finds use as a soft ligand. Its complexes are generally lipophilic and feature metals in low oxidation states. Examples include the colorless complexes FeH2(P(OEt)3)4 and Ni(P(OEt)3)4 (m.p. 108 °C).7 It also forms a stable complex with copper(I) iodide.8
Ford-Moore, A. H.; Perry, B. J. (1951). "Triethyl Phosphite". Org. Synth. 31: 111. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.031.0111. /wiki/Doi_(identifier) ↩
Piscopio, Anthony D.; Shakya, Sagar (2005). "Triethyl Phosphite". Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis. doi:10.1002/047084289X.rt224.pub2. ISBN 0-471-93623-5. 0-471-93623-5 ↩
Gardner, J. N.; Carlon, F. E.; Gnoj, O. (1968). "One-step procedure for the preparation of tertiary α-ketols from the corresponding ketones". The Journal of Organic Chemistry. 33 (8): 3294–3297. doi:10.1021/jo01272a055. PMID 5742870. /wiki/Doi_(identifier) ↩
Liang, Yu-Feng; Jiao, Ning (2014). "Highly Efficient C–H Hydroxylation of Carbonyl Compounds with Oxygen under Mild Conditions". Angewandte Chemie International Edition. 53 (2): 548–552. doi:10.1002/anie.201308698. PMID 24281892. /wiki/Doi_(identifier) ↩
Ittel, Steven D. (1990). "Complexes of Nickel(0)". Inorganic Syntheses. Inorganic Syntheses. Vol. 28. pp. 98–104. doi:10.1002/9780470132593.ch26. ISBN 978-0-470-13259-3. 978-0-470-13259-3 ↩